CHAPTER TEN

Baja—

I take Elaina on a nice ride out to Lake Nighthorse. It's a pretty day with not a cloud in the sky. As we get closer, glimmering blue waters appear on our right. A kayaker slowly paddles across the calm surface, mountains making a pretty backdrop on the horizon.

We approach the boat launch and parking area. A line of SUVs are backed in the diagonal spots. A man is busy unstrapping a kayak from one. Another is getting a couple of paddleboards off the top of his vehicle.

I find a spot, and we climb from the bike.

"That was so much fun," Elaina says with a big smile.

Unstrapping my helmet, I hang it off the handlebars, then take hers. "Glad you like it. Want to leave the jacket here?"

"Oh, sure." She shrugs out of it, and I lay it across the seat.

"Come on." I lead her to the water's edge. Holding her hand feels like the most natural thing. It's pretty warm with the sun on us as we stand on the boat launch, watching some guys in wetsuits head off with their paddleboards.

It's the first week in October and an unseasonably warm day. Everyone is taking advantage of the weather before the cold of fall settles in.

A gray-haired man returns with his kayak and climbs out, dragging it on shore. I move to give him a hand.

"Hey, let me help you with that," I offer.

"Thanks. It's kind of unwieldy. Or maybe I'm just getting old." He chuckles and leads the way to his vehicle.

I wrangle it up on to his carrier and help him strap it down.

He offers his hand. "Thank you. Name's Buck."

"Dylan. Nice to meet you, Buck. You come here often?"

"Used to. I'm turning eighty on Friday. This may be my last summer with this old girl." He pats the boat.

"Let's hope not. Happy birthday, Buck."

He nods and looks back where Elaina stands, then winks. "Got yourself a pretty girl. Don't waste a day, son. They go by way too fast."

He climbs into his vehicle, and I return to Elaina.

"That was nice of you."

I shrug. "Anyone would have done it."

"I don't think Elliott would have."

My smile falls, because she's right. I think about what that old man just said to me. "It's his birthday Friday. That old guy's turning eighty. Can you believe it? Still out kayaking."

"How nice he got this beautiful day and took advantage of it."

"That's kind of the advice he gave me."

"He gave you advice?"

"Yeah. Told me not to waste a day because they go by too fast."

"Sounds like good words to live by."

"They do, don't they?" I tip my head to the bike. "Come on. I want to show you Main Street."

It doesn't take long before I'm backing into a spot. I forgot they kicked off the Fall Festival this week with garlands of fall leaves and tiny orange lights strung across the street, and pumpkins at the entrances to all the shops.

"Wow. This is so cool," she says.

We wander down the street, and she window shops, until she catches the scent in the air. "Oh, my gosh. Something smells so good."

"That's the kettle corn stand." I nod to the red popup tent next to the gourmet popcorn shop.

Her face lights up. "Can we get some? I love kettle corn."

"Absolutely."

There's a small line, and we wait our turn. A mother in front of us has a baby in her arms and a little girl beside her.

Elaina smiles and waggles her fingers at the baby dressed in a pink knit hoodie. She coos and gives us a toothless grin, drool landing on the cloth her mother has over her shoulder.

"Aren't you precious?" Elaina says, and the mother turns, smiling. "How old is she?"

"Two months yesterday."

"She's beautiful."

"Thank you."

Elaina bends and smiles at the little girl. "And how old are you?"

"Four."

"What a big girl you are. I bet you're a wonderful older sister."

The child nods vigorously.

"Do you love kettle corn?"

She nods again. "I like the rainbow one. It tastes like candy."

"It sounds delicious. I may have to get that, too."

They get their order, and Elaina waves goodbye to the child.

I notice the soft expression in her eyes as she watches them leave. I hate that she believes time is running out for her.

We place our order. She gets the rainbow; I get dark chocolate drizzle and a long plastic sleeve of bacon cheddar flavor.

"Who's that for?"

"Rock, our president. It's his downfall. Might buy me some points."

"Points?"

"Never hurts to be in the good graces of the boss."

"Is he a nice guy?"

"He's tough when he has to be, but he's a good man. You'll love him."

We wander down the street, eating our kettle corn.

"I've always wanted to live in a small town with a main street, one that goes all-out on the holidays."

I gesture to the end of the block. "You should see the park at night. They light about a million pumpkins. I'll have to drive you past it later."

"I'd love to see it. This town has a lot of bars and restaurants, huh?"

"Yeah. We get some tourists. The Fall Festival attracts a lot of out-of-towners. You should see this place at Christmas. They really go all-out with a million lights strung across the street and garland and wreaths on every lamp post. Plus, the park is filled with decorated trees, and they sell hot chocolate."

We pass another stand that's selling apple cider, and I buy us each a cup, then we wander up the opposite side of the street and back to where I parked the bike.

We're gone for about two hours before we return for Rosie and the truck.

Elaina's practically bouncing up and down when we climb off the bike. "That was so much fun."

"I knew if I could talk you into climbing on the back, you'd like it." I wink. "I'll have to take you again."

We load the dog into the back of my crew cab, and she hangs her head out the window.

I back us out of the drive and spin the steering wheel around with one hand, reaching over with the other to lace my fingers with Elaina's hand.

Rosie puts her head between the two seats and rests her paw on our linked hands, and we both start laughing.